Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

My daughter Michelle, calls them Fairy Cookies mainly due to the cookie press chosen to squish them flat. We served these at the Queen Victoria Special Tea Luncheon we held every May. I was careful to choose the Saturday closest to her birthday on the 24th. After pressing the cookies with the fairy imprint, sugar was sprinkled on top to give them a sparkly appearance. They are not only good with poppy seeds but violet petals are excellent too.

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp lemon extract
• 2 tsp poppy seeds
• 1 tsp fine lemon peel zest
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• White sugar for sprinkling on top

1. Cream margarine and sugar together
2. Add lemon extract, egg, lemon peel, and salt.
3. Mix in poppy seeds.
4. Shape into 1 inch balls in the palm of your hands.
5. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
6. Flatten to 1/2 inch thickness with cookie press of your choice, bottom of a glass, or a fork.
7. Bake at 350 F for about 8 minutes. Edges will appear slightly toasted.
8. Cool on a wire rack.